The Colts are drawing trade interest on one of their young receivers, and the Jaguars and Titans both have names floating around as deadline candidates as well.
In Indianapolis, Jordan Schultz reported that teams in need of receiving help have been calling about Josh Downs. Jeremy Fowler added that multiple clubs have checked in on Downs too, and said he doesn’t think the receiver would be opposed to a fresh start.
Fowler also noted that there’s skepticism around Jonathan Taylor being moved. Taylor just signed an extension, and other teams believe the Colts may view him as a player to build around rather than shop.
Jacksonville’s situation has become one of the more intriguing ones on the deadline radar. Fowler said league executives are sensing the end is near for Brian Thomas Jr. because of how little he’s been involved in the offense, a pattern that has now stretched across two seasons.
Those same execs also described it as somewhat puzzling that the Jaguars haven’t been able to get it working. At the same time, Fowler said some people around the league have tied Jacksonville to Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne if Washington puts him on the market.
Graziano, for his part, sees the Jaguars as possible buyers and said Thomas is the player he expects is most likely to be dealt before the deadline.
Tennessee has its own set of names to watch. Fowler said teams looking for pass-rush help think Titans outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson could be had for the right price, even though Tennessee just brought him in this past offseason to reunite him with head coach Robert Saleh.
Running back Tony Pollard has also surfaced in trade talk, though one AFC executive told Fowler, “I don’t think [the Titans] want to take weapons away from the quarterback right now.” Another potential move involves cornerback Alontae Taylor, who has been benched for the past two games despite being one of the team’s notable free-agent additions in March.
His contract could complicate matters, but an NFC executive told Fowler that Taylor being in high demand just months ago would help preserve his value.
In Other News...
Titans Suddenly Have A Real RB2 Debate Behind Tyjae Spears
Tyjae Spears was supposed to have a firmer grip on the Titans No. 2 running back job, but a knee injury and uneven play have opened the door for someone else. Michael Carter has been getting more work in recent games, and his ability to handle all three downs has caught attention from coach Robert Saleh. In a backfield that already leans heavily on Tony Pollard, the battle for touches behind him has become a real subplot.
Carters recent production has outpaced both Spears and rookie Nick Singleton, and that alone is changing the conversation about how Tennessee wants to structure its backfield. If Spears cannot get back to form, the Titans may have to decide whether Carter is simply a short-term fill-in or the more reliable option as RB2. The picture could shift again if Pollard is traded, which would only make this situation more important to watch in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Loom In One Of The NFLs Biggest Trade Decisions
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the league has already seen one of its most consequential in-season swings, as the Colts moved guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks for future draft picks and sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers for a draft pick. Deals of that size have a way of resetting the market, and they tend to invite every team with a meaningful decision to the center of the conversation.
For Tennessee, that matters because Jeffery Simmons is part of the wider trade discussion now forming around some of the leagues biggest names. Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Brian Thomas and Budda Baker are also being floated as potential candidates, with possible landing spots already being mapped out, but the bigger question is how aggressive teams become once a move like Seattles changes the temperature. The Titans may not be the only club watching closely, but they are firmly among the teams who need to know where that market is heading before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Tight End Plan Is Becoming A Real Brian Daboll Problem
The Titans offense has spent most of the first half of the season stuck near the bottom of the league in points scored, and the scrutiny on Brian Daboll has only grown as the unit has struggled to find any real rhythm. One of the quieter issues inside that broader problem has been tight end, where Tennessee brought in Daniel Bellinger on a three-year deal with the hope that he could help stabilize a position that often matters as much for balance and protection as it does for the passing game.
So far, though, Bellinger has not given the Titans much in the way of receiving production, and his blocking numbers have not pushed the conversation forward either. Add in Gunnar Helm, and the fit still looks unsettled, with the two tight ends failing to give Tennessee the kind of complementary pairing it needs. For a coordinator already taking heat, the bigger concern is whether the issue is less about talent and more about how those roles are being deployed. [Read more 🡒]